Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,611, Lemuel Fling, Conn.

SERVICE
Conn.
Fling, Lemuel Sarah
NUMBER
R. 3611
CONTENTS

FLING, LEMUEL (CONN,) R-3611

15.519 R New Hampshire. New York. Samuel Kling,
Plainfield in the state of New Hampshire who was an Ensign in the regiment commanded by Colonel Durkee of the Connecticut s, for the term of one year.
scribed on the roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 2 d of May 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th of Oct. 27. 1818. and sent to Salma Hale, Esq. Keene, New Hampshire.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1819. . . . $ 322.01 Semi-ann. all'ce ending March 4. 1820. . . 120. " 2 nd 1 year 3 m s : 30/31-4/30. $ 442.01
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
For instance
Qualification sent July 17 th 1820 to Pension New Hampshire Salma Hale,

[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]
FLING, LEMUEL (CONN.) (R 3611)

This Certifies that Samuel Hling is this day lawfully married to Sarah Goodfellow by me according to the laws of this state as witness my hand acted Broomfield May 10 th 1878
Philimon Robbins
Pastor of the Gospel Church Broomfield

(24)
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Cheshire ss.)
ON this second day of May 181 P , before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas for the second District in said State comprising the county of Grafton personally appears Emmanuel Fling a Citizen of the United States aged sixty one years, resident in Plainfield in the said State, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the declaring among other things revolutionary war:" That he the said Emmanuel Fling enlisted immediately after the commencement of the Revolutionary war as a private soldier in the company commanded by Captain Ingalls of the Continental line
; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until the month of September 1780 he was promoted to an Ensign as appears by the affidavit of the late  when he was discharged from service in annexed commissa and on account of ill health about one year before peace be the services ; that he was in the battles of Germanstown and Monmouth and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support ; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid. That contained in the  affidavit herunto annexed -
Wm H Woodward
I, Wm H Woodward Judge of the Courts of Common Pleas
as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Emmanuel Fling as an Ensign for a longer term than nine months at one time did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court no particular impression being used therefor. the day and year first before written
Wm H Woodward

Cheshire Gr. Oct 20. 1819.
I Salma Hale Clerk of the Judicial Courts in said County certify that at the time the foregoing paper purports to have been executed Wm H. Woodward, then Chief Justice of the Courts of Common Pleas in the district composed of the counties of Cheshire aforesaid of Grafton & Coos, and that the foregoing is his signature
In testimony whereof I have unto office the Seal of our Superior Court of Justice
S. Hale

SCHEDULE,
Of the whole estate (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) and income of Samuel Flung of Plainfield in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, Applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of May 1st, 1820.
   5 kitchen chairs 83 2 augurs 60   1 Pine chest with drawers 2.00 1 horse 32 50   1 Chest 58 - 1 pin tott 50 1.08 1 bow 17   1 Meal chest 67. Bread trough 12 79 1 Saddle 2   2 old pails 25 - small barrel 50 75 1 Side do 5   1 Soap barrel 25 2 hogs 12   1 Thorne stangs 1 2 Rigs 1.50   1 Pr flat irons 25 2 chains 3. iron shovel 58 3.58   1 bak kettle 38 1 Sett horse traces 2   1 Dish kettle 33 1 Pitch fork 30   1 Pot 25 1 Sett old harness 3   1 Pr small steelyards 75 1 iron kettle 1.50 1.50   1 brass warming pan 75 1 reel 33, quill wheel 75 1.08   1 flax comb 175 2 saws 2   1 woolen wheel 1.25 1 huskel basket 25   1 Linnen 1.50 1 half bushel measure 37   1 Lot crockery ware 1.50 1 Scythe & snath 1.25   1 Lot knives forks & spoons 87 1 hoe 50 - 2 chisels 29 79   1 iron candlestick & lamp 25 2 skittels 20 - 1 barrel 25 45   1 tub 50 1 cider barrel 33   1 wooden clock 11 1 bridle 25   1 broadax, old iron 32 1 old sled 50   1 axe 50   1 iron square 50   29.35  
71.92 29.35 101.28
Samuel Flung
We the Subscribers testify and say, that we have viewed the property contained in the above Schedule, shewn to us by Samuel Flung above named, as his property; and are of opinion that the sums set against the respective items are their true value.
Cheshire ss. 182 Personally appeared, above named, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, by them subscribed. Before me,
Justice of the Peace. above Justice of the Peace.
I certify, that named, are disinterested and credible witnesses.

Enlisted for the war as Sergeant Jan 16, 77 Sergeant Major April 1780 Ensign 1 st Oct 1780 Lieut, Nov 1781 discharged Sept 12, 82
See Col D. Miller, Regiment of Connecticut Line
Lemuel Fling
$107.28
Plainfield
15, 579
Antonia I think
The cow is valued rather low (17 cents) but she may be contested
March
1870

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CHESHIRE COUNTY SS.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
ON this fourth day of July 1820 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of said Court being a court of record for said county, proceeding according to the course of the common law, having a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, and keeping a record of its proceedings, Samuel Fling aged sixty three years, resident in Keene in said county, who being first duly sworn, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows:
I enlisted at Norwich Connecticut as a Sergeant during the war in January of Febry 1777 and when the regiment was formed I was put into Capt Andrew Fitchs Company Col John Duncks regt which was the first regiment on the Connecticut line of continental troops, and served as a Sergeant until I was promoted to a Sergeant Major & served in that capacity until I was promoted to an Ensign in Capt Traskes Woolots company same Regt in which capacity I served about 2 years - was in the battle of Trenton, Monmouth & the siege of fort Mifflin The date of my original declaration in order to obtain a pension is the second day of May 1818
The number of my pension certificate is 15319
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818: and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. And further say that I am by occupation a house carpenter, that I cannot now more than one third my former ability to pursue my said occupation - My family living with me are Irene Fling, my mother aged 85 years and has been a cripple for thirty years and is now unable to do any thing for her own support. And I am by law obliged to support her half the time at great expense - My wife Ruth Fling aged 63 years unable to support herself - Fanny W. Fling my daughter aged 20 years able to support herself and no more - Henry N. Helliard, my grandson aged five years unable to support himself & by law chargeable to me & supported by me Samuel Fling
Sworn to and declared at Keene in said County, on the fourth day of July 1820 before Elisha Huntley } Judge of said Court.
I, SALMA HALE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Cheshire, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property in the aforesaid schedule, is one hundred one dollars and twenty eight cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this eighth day of July
A. D. 1820
S. Hale

State of New York Greene County
On this 10 th day of February 1838 personally appeared before Henry Goske a Judge of the Court of the County of Greene in State of New York aforesaid Sarah Fling a resident of the town of Hunter in the County of Greene and State of New York Aged Eighty five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836
That she is the widow of Samuel Fling who was a Lieutenant in the regular army in the war of the Revolution was in the battle of Bunker Hill was at West Point on several occasions and thinks he was in the Battle of Red bank in Virginia and that his name is on the Pension list Roll under the act of 1818
She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel Fling on the 10 th day of May 1775 that her husband the aforesaid Samuel Fling died on the 22 nd day of October 1824 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof herewith annexed
Sworn and subscribed on the
day and year above written before me
Henry Goske
Sarah Fling mark
one of the Judges of the county courts of the county aforesaid

I Henry Goshe Judge as aforesaid do hereby certify that Sarah Hling the within applicant is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where she resides to be a person of truth & veracity & further that by reason of bodily infirmity she is unable to attend court J Henry Goshe

Fanny St  Goulding Augustus Kling
Daughter of Lemuel

To the House of Representatives of the United States.
The Undersigned, heirs of Lemuel Fling,
Respectfully represent, that their father, Lemuel Fling, joined the Army of the Revolution under General Putnam, & was present at the battle of Bunker's Hill; that he soon became a Sergeant, & (afterwards) an Ensign, & was in the service of his country throughout the whole war, & participated in the closing act, the taking of Cornwallis at Yorktown; that he also acted temporarily in higher capacities, as in the defence of Fort Mifflin at Mud Island, where he served as Captain of the Artillery, & contracted a deafness from which he never recovered, & which was so great as to debar him from conversation; that he received a pension for a few years before his death, which was in 1824, but no bounty land; & that his widow to whom he was married during the war, & who survived him for seven years, dying in 1831, received no pension. Why no bounty land was assigned him, they do not know, but suppose it may have been owing to the fact, that a little before the signing of the treaty, & during the pending of the negotiations, while the Army was unemployed, he obtained leave of absence to go to his family, but, owing to sickness, overstaid his time, & which was reported as a deserter. When he applied for a pension, this was brought forward as an objection, but the matter was then explained, & the pension was granted, but no land.
Your petitioners know that they can claim nothing according to the strict letter of the law, but they would respectfully ask whether it would not be according to the spirit of the laws relating to widows, passed since their mother's death, that the pension to which, in equity, she was as truly entitled then, as if she had lived till after 1836, should be for the benefit of her heirs. One of your petitioners, who is in necessitous

circumstances, had the care of her mother during her widowhood, & helped to provide for her whom the generosity or faith of the country should have cared for; & now she prays you honorable body to remember the services of her father, more poorly requited than those of multitudes who have survived him, to whom Congress in later years has given a more liberal recompense, & to bestow on his children that which is the just due of his toils & sufferings for his country.
And your petitioners will ever pray. January 17, 1850

Heirs of Lemuel Fling of N.Y. Power of Atty,
act 1818
Paper wanted for in an in action admitted cause
Proposed D.M.
J.D. Woodward Atty present

State of New York County of St Lawrence ss.
On this 15 th day of August — 1854 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Augustus Fling a resident of the town of Potsdam — in said County aged Suply one years and made oath according to law that he is directly interested in a claim against the United States for certain arrears of half pay or increase of pension, supposed to be due to him as one of the children of Lemuel Fling .
and he hereby appoints J. DOUGLAS WOODWARD, Counsellor at Law, of Plattsburg, N. Y., his Attorney to prosecute said claim, and examine all papers and documents in relation thereto, on file in any of the Departments at Washington City or elsewhere, and to receive from the officer authorised to issue the same, a certificate for any arrears or increase of pension and half pay to which Deponent may be entitled, and to do all other acts and things in and about obtaining such arrears or increase of pension as Deponent might or could do, were he personally present at the doing thereof; and he hereby revokes all former powers if any inconsistent with the above, and authorizes his said Attorney to appoint Attorneys, one or more, under him, for any or all the purposes aforesaid, hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever Deponent's said Attorney or those appointed under him shall lawfully do or cause to be done in the premises. In witness whereof the said Deponent has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
In the presence of
J. Davison
}
Augustus Fling
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged, before me, on the day and year first above mentioned, and I believe the Deponent to be directly interested in the claim above mentioned, and the identical person therein alleged and described, and I have no interest in the result of said claim and am not concerned in its prosecution. and half pay for life —
J. Davison
Justice Peace.
State of New York County of St Lawrence ss. I, the subscriber, Clerk of
said County, certify that J. Davison before whom the above affidavit and Power was sworn and acknowledged on the fifteenth day of August 1854 was at said time a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly qualified, and that I verily believe his signature above written to be genuine; and I have no interest in the result of the claim to which the foregoing paper relates, and am not concerned in its prosecution. Witness my hand and official seal at Canton , in said County this Seventeenth day of August 1854.
[L.S.]
Ebenezer D. Winslow Clerk

September 6, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXX
am
LEMUEL FLING R. 3611 BA-J/MHFF:MLB
Miss Sallie A. Wright 15 Wall Street Gouverneur, New York
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request a further examination of the papers on file in Revolutionary War claim for pension, R. 3611, based upon service of Lemuel Fling, in order to adjust certain seemingly conflicting statements in regard to the marriage of that officer as shown in the report to Mrs. Clara E. Wright from the Commissioner of Pensions, February 20, 1924.
The papers in the claim cited above, now in custody of the Veterans Administration, have been reexamined. It is shown therein that in 1820, Lemuel Fling, then aged sixty-three years and a resident of Plainfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, stated as follows: "My family living with me are Irene Fling, my mother aged eighty-five years and has been a cripple for thirty years and is now unable to do anything for her own support. And I am by law obliged to support her half the time at great expense. My wife Ruth Fling aged sixty-three years unable to support herself. Fanny W. Fling my daughter aged twenty years able to support herself and no more. Henry H. Hilliard, my grandson aged five years."
The following is shown, also: Sarah Fling applied for pension February 3, 1838, and stated that she and Lemuel Fling, a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, were married May 10, 1775; that she was then living in Branford, Connecticut, with her father, William Goodsel, that her name was Sarah Goodsel and that directly after their marriage they went to Pomfret, Connecticut, where her husband resided and where she continued with his mother and sister to the close of the war. She stated that he, Lemuel Fling, died October 24, 1824. Lemuel Fling moved to Saint Lawrence County, New York, about 1821, and died in Potsdam, that county.
It is shown, further, that Fanny W. Goulding, daughter of Lemuel Fling, made application in 1850 in behalf of the heirs of that officer,

for pension and bounty land which might have been due them for his service in the Revolutionary War; the petition was signed by her and Augustus Fling. She stated that her father received a pension but no land, that he died in 1824, that his widow to whom he was married during the war, survived him seven years and died in 1831 and received no pension. She stated, also, that her father obtained a leave of absence from the army to go to his family and because of sickness remained overtime and was reported a deserter. She did not give the name of the widow to which she referred, but referred to her as her mother, and when writing about the heirs, she referred to that widow as "their mother". She stated that she had the care of her mother during her widowhood and wanted any pension to which she (her mother) might have been entitled had she lived until 1836 (This was a year in which a widow's pension act was passed). In 1854, Augustus Fling, aged sixty-one years, and a resident of Potsdam, New York, applied for any pension which might have been due him as heir and one of the children of Lemuel Fling. He made no reference to his mother or any widow of his father.
No pension or land was granted any widow, or children of the above-named officer, as a final examination of the military records showed that he deserted in 1782.
This office has no means by which to render the above data more perspicuous.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]
FLING, LEMUEL (CONN.) R-3611

To my dear Wife
Cambridge June 28 th 1775
You are anxious to hear how I get along and whether I am alive or alive we had a hard Battle yesterday on Bunker Hill Cousin John was killed I received no injury only I got my coat tore with a bayonet we have whipped the British nicely our men have got out of powder I fought with all my might I thought it would be to hard for you to be left a widow so soon after getting a husband we are called on to march from here in half an hour I think much about you and want to see you very much as returned to this place from the battle ground yesterday this from your loving husband. good bye
to Sarah Fling
Samuel Hling

REJECTED
1924, Feb. 20 - Hist. to Mrs. Clara E. Wright, WM. 1938 - Sept. 6 - Miss Bessie A. Wright furnished data from these papers. MVB
3611
P. O. _____
Sarah Hling
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleged that The printed list of 1852, give cause of rejection
Re-enlisted: as: "He was a deserter".
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Cont
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

X N. York
Sarah Fleming Rejected
Letter to Hon. A. J. Parker 22 May 28 " " " P King Feb 9 47 " " " " " 1/50
Examined by Col. Berrett Nov 15, 1850
3611

Col Darkus mgt
Laurel Kling - Ent Surg. Jan 16. 1877 - War
Surg! May - Apr '80
Ensign - Oct. '80
Lieut - Nov 13 '81
Detailed Sept. 12 '82
41.347 42.345
No 40903 6 41.275

I Abel Filing (A.) of Springfield State of Vermont do make Oath & say that I enlisted with En gn Lemuel Filing of the 1 st Connecticut Regt commanded by Col l John Durkee in the Revolutionary war where he the s d Lemuel Filing did serve as an En gn about a year after I joined s d Regt or until he was promoted to a Lieut n & transfer d to Col n Butters Regt n of the same line
Abel Filing State of Vermont } April 18 th 1818 then personally Windsor County } appeared Abel Filing and after being carefully examined and duly cautioned made solemn Oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth — before me — John Davis Justice of the Peace

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED
For as much as it is the wish of Congress
Greeting. We, reposing especial trust
and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity, DO by these presents constitute and appoint you, to be a Lieutenant - in the ...
in the Army of the United States, to take rank as ... from the day of ... 1779
Lieutenant by doing and performing all manner of things therein belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as
Lieutenant And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress
for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance
of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress forementioned, or a Committee of the States.
Witness
President of
the Congress of the United States of America, at ... day of ... 17 ... and in the ... Independence.
the ... Year of our
Entered in the War Office and examined by the Board
Attest
Secretary of the Board of War
Sam. Huntington President

State of New York Green County
James Hous being duly sworn aspoas one says that he was personally acquainted with Samuel Hling and Sarah Hling his wife in the town of Pomfret in Connecticut State in the year 1786 they then lived together as man and wife that he knew them several years and never knew any thing to the contrary of their being lawful man and wife and lived together as he was credibly informed and believing to be true until the death of the said Samuel Hling which took place in the year 1824 and that he is now personally acquainted with the said Sarah Hling and knows she still remains the widow of Samuel Hling deceased and further this deponent saith not
Sworn and submitted before me this 12 th day of February 1838
William S. Robinson & Com te of Deeds
James Hous
I certify that I believe the above named deponent to be a person of truth and veracity and that what he has sworn to is true according to my knowledge and belief William S. Robinson & Com te etc

State of New York } Greene County } ss
Samuel Orr being duly sworn aspony and Says that he is the settled Minister in the first Baptist Church in Hunter in said County and State aforesaid and that he is personally acquainted with Widow Sarah King that she belongs to his Society and is a person of good moral character and of truth and veracity and further this deponent saith not Sworn and subscribed before me this 12 th day of February 1838
Eli T Robinson } Justice of the Peace
Samuel Orr
I certify that I believe the above named deponent to be a person of truth and veracity and what he has sworn to is true
Eli T Robinson } Justice

FREE
J. B. Calhoun Esq. Secretary of War Washington
For transfer. Recd. 17 Aug 1820
Am 20
General John Brown from Mrs. Benjamin to New York 19 Sept 1820 from 4 Sept 1820

New York 14 th August 1821
Sir At the request of Samuel Hling a Prisoner of the U. S., I take the liberty of enclosing to you his Application for a transfer of his name from the New Hampshire to the New York Agency to take effect from the 1 st of March 1821.
I am very respectfully Sir Your Obedt Servt
Wm Dunnington
J. C. Calhoun Esq.

Keene, N.H. Oct 20. 1819.
Sir,
Herewith you will receive the application of Lieut Lemuel Fling, a revolutionary officer, for a pension. He informs me that it has once been returned "Inadmissible his commission having been altered by his own shewing" He states, and I believe him, that his commission was altered without his consent, and by a man who happening to see it several years after the war, inserted the word Lieutenant, knowing he had that rank when he left the army. If it was altered by another person, and with no fraudulent view, I trust the Secretary will agree with me that it does not amount to a sufficient cause to reject the application. He was promoted to a Lieutenantary just before the close of the war and like many other officers never received a commission of that grade
In addition to the papers before sent I now forward the affidavit of Thos Grosvenor who was a Colonel in the Revolutionary war. It shows that Fling was certainly an ensign, which under our late law would give him the same claims as a Lieutenantary

Lieut Fling has just called on me, of from his conversation, and manners I am inclined to think him a deserving object of the bounty of his govt - An inquiry of respectable men in his neighborhood now attending Court here, I learn that his character is fair, & his circumstances reduced - that he is in fact such a person as the President felt desirous of relieving when he recommended the late law to Congress.
Will you give his case a second considera- tion, and inform me of the result
I am, sir, respectfully
Your Obedt Servt
Salma Hale

D. Rice & Smith vs. J. Rutter.
Affidavits relating to Lemuel Fleming

(A.)
I Dimond Rice of Cornish in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire do make oath and say that for about eight years previous to October 1817 I lived a near neighbor to Capt. Lem d Hling, now residing in Plainfield in this state - that I am well acquainted with his pecuniary circumstances and bodily health - that for several years past he has been unable to perform constant hard labor by reason of Rheumatism in his arms - that he is subjected to great trouble and inconvenience by the almost total loss of his hearing, - that he is in reduced circumstances in regard to property, having while I lived near him in Cornish about five or six hundred dollars amount in real estate which he has since sold - and that he has an aged mother depending on him for support -
his Dimond X Rice mark
I Thomas J. Witter of Cornish in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire, do make oath and say that I am well acquainted with the facts stated in the above affidavit, and that they are just and true as there stated -
Thomas J. Witter
State of New Hampshire Cheshire ss
Cornish April 6, 1818 Personally appearing the above named Dimond Rice and Thomas J. Witter made solemn oath that the above affidavits by them respectively signed are just and true before me Newton Whittelsey Justice Peace

John V. Young Feb 15/50
[Faint, mirrored cursive text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

400 Pension Office July 15 1850
Sir
I have the honor to return herewith Mr Baldwin's letter respecting and reply to the application for arrears in the case of Lemuel Fling to state that at the time his was placed upon the Pension Roll under the act of 18 March 1818 the Rolls of the Connecticut Service was not in our possession. Since then they have been used, from which it appears that he entered the regiment under the Command of Col Dunker as a Sergeant for the War, 11 June 1779, was appointed Sergeant Major April 1780 Promoted to Ensign 1 st Oct 1780, and to a Lieutenantcy Jan 13 Nov 1781, and that he deserted Sept 12, 1782, thereby forfeiting all claim to a pension. There is therefore no arrears due in this case.
Hon Preston King House of Reps

Hand Piston Ring
July 9 - 49

195 Pension Office Feb 9. 1847.
Sir,
I herewith return the letter in relation to the case of Samuel Fling du o and have the honor to inform you that he did not acquire any right to commu- tation, bounty land, or the benefits of the act of May 15. 1828, as he did not serve till the close of the revolutionary war, or become a supernumerary officer.
Wm Preston King ITR
3427. Sarah Fling NY 36 NY deserted

No. of Reps.
Jan y . 24. 1850
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comm ee of Pensions
Sir
Enclosed I send you a letter and a petition designed to be presented to Congress. My object is to ascertain whether bounty land or commutation pay or any thing is due to Samuel Hays or his heirs rather he being dead. It seems he drew a pension which could only have been obtained I suppose by showing that he was not a deserter & in such case I suppose his heirs would be entitled to what he might have obtained. I do not think Congress will by special act give his heirs a pension, but if any thing is due they should have it. Respectfully, M c Connel Preston Hays

No. of Reps Feb. 3 d 1847
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
Sir
Enclosed I send you two papers relating to a claim for the services of Lieut t Samuel Flinn in the Revolution - a state of the case is set forth in the papers - Will you cause an examination to be made to ascertain what claim exists and inform me & return the enclosed papers Very Respectfully
Preston King

Wm A. J. V. Carter
22 May 1838
OL

War Department Pension Office
22 May 1838
Sir The pension  claim of Mrs Sarah Fling whose papers are enclosed in your letter of the 26 th ulto has been examined and her  claim rejected - Her husband upon whose revolutionary services the application is based it seems was inadvertently allowed a pension under the act of March 18. 1818; He  He  appears claimed to have served about 5 years in the 4 th Regiment of the Connecticut line as a Sergeant and Ensign: On examining the rolls of the regiment it appears that he entered the reg t on the 16 th Jan 1777 for the war was appointed an Ensign in October 1780, a Lieutenant in Nov 1781 and deserted the 12 th Sept 1782: By desertion he forfeited all claim to remuneration for previous service; Since his widow is not entitled to a pension under the act; Her papers are placed on file
A. J. Parker Horn Rifer NCS

Washington City April 26. 1838
Sir, I enclose the papers of Mrs Sarah Fling for the purpose of procuring a pension for her. I hope they will be considered satisfactory.
My Resp t Yours A. J. Parker
J. H. Edwards Esq

PAID 10
James G. Berret Esq Pension Agent Washington District of Columbia
W. W. Andrews Potsdam N.Y. Oct 17/50 recd " 22 " enc. of H. H. H.
for the Pension
for the Pension

Potsdam N.Y. Oct. 17 th 1850
James G. Berret, Esq.
Dear Sir,
Mr Goulding, in whose behalf I have once before written to you, is anxious to learn something respecting the claim of Mr Flinn's heirs, if you have prosecuted the inquiry so far as to form any judgment. He is afraid from your long silence that a letter from you may have miscarried. He earnestly desires that you would write immediately, & inform him whether you wish to be the agent in prosecuting the claim further.
Very respectfully W. W. Andrews

X 3427
Ent. Sept. 16 June 1771 war May Apr 80 Eurya Oct. 80 LT Nov 13 81 Durant Sept 12 1782
Hon. A. J. Parker HR

State of New York Greene County } ss
William F. Stewart being duly sworn upon and says that he was personally acquainted with Samuel Hling and Sarah Hling his wife when they first came into the town of Pottsdam, in the County of St. Lawrence and State of New York and that they lived together as man and wife until the death of the said Samuel Hling which was on the 22 nd day of Oct r 1824 that he was present when he died, and he was buried under the honours of War and that he has been intimately acquainted with his widow Sarah Hling ever since the death of her husband Samuel Hling and that since the death of her said husband she has removed from Pottsdam (the place where her husband died) into the town of Hunter in the County of Greene and State of New York where she now resides and still remains the widow of the said Samuel Hling and has not been married since his death and that he believes her to be a person of the first respectability and of truth and veracity and that she is in indigent circumstances and further this deponent saith not
Sworn and subscribed before me this 10 th day of February 1838
Eli T. Robinson } Justice of the Peace
William F. Stewart
I believe the above named deponent to be a person of truth and veracity and what he has sworn to is true — Eli T. Robinson } J. Peace

State of New York ss. Greene County
Sarah Fling being duly sworn deposes and says that at the time of her marriage on the 10 th day of May 1775 she lived in the town of Branford in the State of Connecticut with her father whose name was William Goodsell and that her name was Sarah Goodsell and that her husband Samuel Fling lived in the town of Pomfret in said State with General Putnam that directly after their marriage she went with her said husband to Pomfret where she continued with the mother and sister of her husband until the close of the war and further this deponent saith not
Sworn and subscribed before me
This 7 th day of April 1838
William S. Robinson } Com d of Deeds
Sarah Fling mark
State of New York ss. Greene County
I William V. D. Hermance Clerk of the said County do certify that William S. Robinson Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn was at the date of the same a Commissioner of deeds of the said County duly appointed and qualified and that his signature to said affidavit is genuine
Witness my hand and official seal this Eleventh day of April 1838
W. V. D. Hermance CR

State of New York Greene County ss }
I William T. B. Hermance Clerk of the said County do certify that Henry Goske Esq. before whom the annexed affidavit of Sarah Fling was sworn was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County duly appointed & qualified that his signature to said affidavit is genuine - that Eli P. Robinson before whom the annexed affidavit of Samuel Orr & William F. Stewart were sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace of said County duly elected & qualified that his signa- ture to said affidavits is genuine that William S. Robinson Esq. before whom the annexed affi- davit of James Haver was sworn was at the date of the same a commissioner of deeds of said County duly appointed & qualified that his signature to said affidavit is genuine
Witness my hand & the seal of the said County this twelfth day of February 1838
W. T. B. Hermance Clerk

Samuel Steng
Incarnations
[Faint, illegible handwriting or bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of St Lawrence } ss.
On this 14 th day of June — 1821, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of St Lawrence personally appeared Ensign Lemuel Fling who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Erastus Woolcott in the regiment commanded by Colonel John Duer in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of New Hampshire from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the state (district, or territory) of New York in the county of Clinton where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. That he at present receives twenty — dollars per month.
Lemuel Fling
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Horace Allen Justice of the Peace
County Seal
affixed S.P.

State of New York
Warren County 3 I Myrtle B. Wilchcock Clerk of the County aforesaid do hereby Certify that Horace Allen before whom the within affidavit was made is and on the 14 th day of June Instant was a Justice of the peace in and for said County acting under the authority of this State and that the same is his signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the County this 28 th day of June 1891
Myrtle B. Wilchcock Clerk

(B.)

The deposition of Tho. Grosvenor of Pomfret in the State of Connecticut who testifies & says that he was acquainted with Mr. Lemuel Piling formerly of said Pomfret now of Plainfield in the State of New Hampshire at the commencement of the revolutionary War that he enlisted himself a Soldier in the State Service for the term of Sixteen Months and and afterwards, enlisted himself in the year AD 1776 the term of One year and in the year AD 1777 for the war that he was promoted to an Ensign in the first Connecticut Regiment of the continental Army, commanded by John Durkee Esq the 4 th March in the year of Lord AD 1779 and continued in the regim t till the fifteenth day of Novem r AD 1781 when he was promoted a Lieut n in the 4 th Connecticut Regiment commanded by Lebulan Butler Esq and transferred accordingly; whether he continued in Service till the close of the War the deponant does not remember and further saith not  Pomfret Novem r 25 th AD 1818. — Tho. Grosvenor
Connecticut, Windham County ss — Pomfret Novem r 25 th AD 1818. —
Personally Appeared Hon ble Thomas Grosvenor Signer of the foregoing deposition & made solemn Oath to the Truth of the Same — Before Me Lem. Grosvenor Justice of the Peace

(C.8.)
I Samuel Tling of Plainfield in the District of New Hampshire Do testify that on the 19 th March immediately after the alarm of Lexington at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, under the Com d of Capt. Ingals of Pomfret State of Connecticut Capt. Ingals was a militia Capt., he march d his company to Brooklyn night Boston, the next day or two after we arrived at Brooklyn the Capt. dismiss his Com y But several of them chose to tarry & do duty with the inhabitants of that town I tarried for one & did duty until there was a retreat from Bunker Hill, I then enlisted for the campaign & when my time was out I enlisted again for a year in a Regt commanded by Col. John Durkee Capt. Watermans Company Both of Norwich Conn. & Serv d at the time of my enlistment in that Regt. & received an honorable discharge signed by Col. Durkee I was that year Corporal & tarried with the Col. some time after my enlistment Expired & went to Conn d with the baggage I was taken down immediately after arrived the Col. home with the small force which I had caught on my way & while I was sick there was an enlistment sent to me & I enlisted again during the war in the Col. Durkee Regt. as a Serjt. 9 March with the first party that moved from that Regt. for Headquarters & when the Regt. all joined I was put under the Com d of Capt. Andrew Tuttle of that Regt. it being then the 4 th Conn. Regt. afterwards I was a Serjt. & then to Ensign my Commission is signed by Samuel Huntington then President of the United States Congress & is hereunto annexed afterwards in 1781 I was promoted to Lieutenant & received no Commission that it was not come when I left Service & transferred to a Regt. Com d by Col. Butler of the same line & when I joined I was put to the Com d of the Light Infantry of that Regt. the Capt. had resign d , where I continued some about a year & about a year before peace I left the Service on account of ill health, I was in the Battle of Germantown night Philadelphia and in the Battle of Germantown Monmouth in the the Detachment Com d by Genl. Lee & saw his Excellency Genl. Washington when he arrested Lee, in these two actions I had a a member of Balls fired through my Cloaths & my musket Stock by a Ball from the enemy I was in the Battle of Redbank or otherwise Fort Mifflin where I had my hearing injured by the sound of Cannon & it has grown so bad that I can't hear but little & not any with one ear, the annexed Commission was originally made for me as ensign but carrying it near my skin the dead body obliterated the writing and a person by the name of Benjamin Cady knowing of my promotion to a lieut. took the new unvariable liberty to alter it. I hope that my long services and hardships which I endured will plead in my favour — And now my circumstances are very low I have not any real property & for about five years past I have not been able to support my family by labour on account of the rumation in my arm & other poor turns which Old people are subject to, I am in my sixty second year. I am still a citizen of the United States & am Poor & need the of my country assistance and I do hereby relinquish all claim to any other provision that may have been made for me
Samuel Tling

Application for a new certificate State of New Hampshire County of Cheshire
In this twelfth day of May 1820 before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Cheshire and a Notary Public for the said State of New Hampshire personally appeared Lemuel Fling of Plaistow in said County who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Ephraim Woleott of Lancaster right in the Regiment com- manded by Colonel John Dyer in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New Hampshire as an Ensign; that he received a certificate of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War which certificate on the sixth day of March last he transmitted by mail to Salma Hale Esq. of Kennebunk in said County accompanied by a power of attorney to a certain Mr. Parker to receive at the Branch Bank at Portsmouth in said State of New Hampshire the amount due on said certificate
Lemuel Fling
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial seal of office the day and year above written
Harvey Chase Justice of the Peace Notary Public

Cheshire S tate of New Hampshire.
On this twenty seventh day of May. 1820, before me the subscribers a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, personally appeared Amos A. Parker and made oath that the within mentioned Pension Certificate was received by him accompanied with a power of attorney authorizing him to receive the money due on said Certificate the 4 th of March last; & that said Certificate was stolen from his possession on the night of the fifteenth of April 1820, & has not since been recovered. Sworn & subscribed to before me Amos A. Parker me, the day & year aforesaid.
Sam Dinsmore Jus. Peace
Cheshire S tate of New Hampshire.
I Salma Hale Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature in and for said county certify that Samuel Dinsmore is an acting Justice of the Peace within & for said County, duly commissioned, & the above is his signature
I certify further that Harvey Chase is a Notary Public
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 30 th day of May 1820
S. Hale
I certify that I received by mail a pension certificate & power of attorney, as stated in Samuel Flings affidavit, that I delivered it to Amos A. Parker, & have no doubt it was stolen & consequently lost
S. Hale

Feb 14 1924.
Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions.
I find by the records that Lemuel Fling had children born in three places.
Brooklin Ct Norwich Ct Lorriah N.H.
He died in Potsdam N.Y. in 1824 Oct 22. His wife Ruth Lady Fling died in Potsdam May 1831.
He may have lived also in Clearmont N.H. but I have only the fact that the son he came to Potsdam

with had children born there, also two born in Plainfield N.H.
Thanking you
I am
(Mrs) Clara E. Wright
15 Wall St.
Gouverneur
N.Y.

15 Wall St.
Gouverneur, N.Y.
Aug. 19, 1938
Commissioner Washington Gardner Bureau of Pensions Dept. of Interior Washington, D.C.
My dear Sir:
Under date of Feb. 20, 1924, you wrote to my mother, Mrs. Clara E. Wright, of this address, about a Revolutionary ancestor, Lemuel of Pomfret, Conn.  Fling - with a reference to Rev. + 1812 Wars Section, at top.
We find that his war record is substantially the same as we had looked it up ourselves.

is classed as a deserter, tho' he served from Spring, 1775 until Sept. 1782, in battles from Bunker Hill to the surrender at Yorktown with a winter at Valley Forge, and goodness knows what in between.
It's about his marriage that I should like to question you. If you will consult your copy of the letter from you to my mother, you will see at the top of page 2 the statement that he married Sarah Goodsell at Branford, Conn. on May 10, 1775 - and you place a question mark after his wife's name, Ruth.
Now, will you please tell me where you got the information about the marriage to Sarah Goodsell? If from her, when she applied for the pension in 1838, - Ok. But at the date you give for the marriage, he was only 18 yrs. old - and she was 22  18,000 and he had been dead for after living to be 64  67 14 yrs. when she applied for the pension. Meanwhile he had married Ruth Cady in Pomfret in 1781, they had six children and lived together until he died in 1824. I saw the original entry of the marriage in 1781 in the town clerk's old records, in Pomfret, this summer.
I shall be very grateful if you can and will answer this  the above question. I am curious to know if my adventurous great-great-great-grandfather was a brigandist, as well as a "deserter."

Very truly yours, (Miss) Sallie A. Wright

February 20, 1924.
Mrs. Clara E. Wright, 15 Wall St., Gouverneur, N. Y.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim R.3611 it appears that Lemuel Fling, a resident of Pomfret, Connecticut, enlisted early in 1775 as a private in Captain Ingoll's Connecticut Company and soon after enlisted for seven months , officers not stated, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, after which, in 1776, he served one year as a Corporal in Captain Waterman's Company, Colonel John Durkee's Connecticut Regiment. He then re-enlisted in January 1777 as Sergeant in Captain Andrew Fitch's Company, Colonel John Durkee's Regiment, promoted to Sergeant-major, was in the battles of Germantown, Red Bank, Fort Mifflin, and Monmouth. On March 4, 1779, he was commissioned Ensign in Captain Erastus Wolcott's Company of said Regiment, was at the surrender of Cornwallis, commissioned Lieutenant November 15, 1781, transferred to Colonel Butler's Connecticut Regiment and served until a year before peace was declared when he left the army on account of ill health.

Do not write this way gain 5/18/86 He married May 10, 1775, at Branford, Connecticut, Sarah, daughter of William Goodsel or Goodsell.
In 1820 he referred to his mother, Irene Fling, aged 85 years, and his wife, Ruth (?) aged 63 years, a daughter, Fanny, aged 20 years, and a grandson, Henry H. Hilliard, aged 5 years. In 1850 a daughter, Fanny W. Goulding, was alive and in 1854 a son, Augustus, was 61 years old and a resident of Potsdam, New York. W. Fling
The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed May 2, 1818, while a resident of Plainfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, aged 61 years. He died at Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, October 22, 1824. His widow, Sarah , applied for pension February 10, 1838, while living at Hunter, Greene County, New York, aged 85 years, but her claim was not allowed as upon an examination of the military rolls his name appeared as a deserter September 12, 1782, his pension having been improperly allowed.
There is no explanation of his statement in 1820 that his wife was named Ruth.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.